Lately, some people have decided to start bringing guns to presidential appearances. It can't be for hunting, so there must be another reason to arm oneself before a public gathering. Apparently the teabaggers have begun to tire of being laughed at, and are demanding more respect in the only way they know; intimidation through the threat of violence. This alarms many people who fear the worst including among the president's own security detail. Given budget cuts to the Secret Service, and a huge increase in death threats against the current president, clearly, this is a pressing national security concern.
I humbly suggest that there exists a simple and highly effective solution to this serious and growing security challenge.
Mr. Obama, perhaps you should ask yourself: WWBD?
What would Bush do?
The Bush administration's legendary outlaw behavior has pretty much made it to the safe shores of ancient history. There will seemingly be no accountability for any of it, and because of this all the power grabs and even confessed lawbreakingnow carry the weight of precedent, and that is a big deal. A series of events have been set in motion that make it inevitable that a future president can and will resurrect the unitary executive, and really, who could blame him (or her)?. Power is meant to be exercised, as even Bush realized. And power grabbed is power earned if nobody pushes back, as any bully will tell you. By their tacit and too often explicit approval, the congress, Dept of Justice, the US military, even the courts have given their blessing to extralegal actions of all stripes to the muscle-bound presidency.
So, WWBD?
First of all, this whole thing never would have happened back in the day. Unfriendlies were kept a respectful distance from the motorcade, the event, and any media vantages. Usually about 1/3 mile or so. Even there, anybody kicking up too much of a fuss went into the wagons for a weekend downtown. Brandishing a firearm of any kind would more than qualify, so throw the gun-toters in prison, or any handy pen, for starters. For as long as you want, no charges or right to counsel need apply. Out of sight, out of mind, and problem solved.
Now, to make sure these irritating people do not bother you anymore, and to prevent any 'fellow travelers' from becoming problematic, you'll need to to create a chilling effect.
Piece. Of. Cake.
First, plant some stories about these people's suspected involvement in drug running, or anything that will elicit a strong negative emotional response from your audience. Make up whatever cover story is expedient and send out sympathetic senators and such to compliant and complicit media outlets to amplify it. Harass their families and friends, too, what the heck. Find out what organizations they belong to (just tap their phones, read their emails and their regular mail,) and commence massive spy operations on those organizations, no matter how innocuous.
Then, break into their homes and confiscate all their other weapons, Nazi memorabilia, and white sheets.
Because setting the narrative is arguably the most important aspect of leadership, you should have your Attorney General hold triumphant press conferences announcing the breakup of a massive, unimaginably dangerous internal terror cell and the prevention of an assassination attempt on the president. Don't shy away from pronouncing their guilt, either. It's quite effective.
Use the resulting wave of goodwill to force new laws legislating vague, sweeping new powers, including legal immunity, to the president, vice-president, and various staffers.
There's no need to even inform congress members or anyone else, for that matter, exactly what you are investigating, or even if there is any evidence.
See, it's all secret. Legally.
Obama can do all those things, because his predecessor did, and nobody cried foul.
Once implemented, this approach can easily become standard. Obama could apply it to his efforts to get meaningful health care reform enacted. Who in congress would publicly oppose any plan if the doing so would cost him his career, or even his freedom? Would the GOP still be screeching about tax cuts if all their personal tax shenanigans were leaked to Rachel Maddow's show? Really, what is the impact of a few thousand teabaggers protesting their mistreatment if they are complaining from a rendition cell in Uzbekistan?
Anyway, it's an option.
Because limitless executive power, as practiced by George Bush and Dick Cheney has been left lying there on the table, for anyone to pick up.